Let the projects begin...

Well, hunting season is over.  I had a 50% success rate.  I filled one of my two tags.  It was an interesting season, but I'm glad to be done.  The first thing I did was use conditioner on my hair, good smelling soap, and lotion.  It is amazing how hunting dries a girl out.  

Next, projects, projects, projects.  I am up to my ears in a little of this and a bit of that.  

I am slowly buffing and polishing my bear claws.  I want to make a necklace and earrings.  They are a beautiful color.  My husband finds my frustrated attempts at buffing the bear claws quite funny.  He said I have put more into the bear's nails than I have ever worked on my own.

 

I finally brought in my frozen pumpkins and removed the seeds.  I washed the seeds, boiled them for 10 minutes in salt water, coated them with olive oil and salt.  I then baked them at 325 for 15 minutes.  They taste great.  I am taking pieces of the pumpkin out for the deer.  Deer love pumpkins!  In case you missed my post a few years ago about how much deer enjoy eating pumpkins take a look see:  deer love pumpkins

I was able to use one of my last summer projects now that deer season is over.  My loofa sponge was ready to be put to the test and it worked great.  I wish it was bigger, but I'm just happy that my 8 foot vine produced one little loofa.  I waited until the zucchini looking gourd was dried.  Brought it in the house and peeled the skin off.  Lo and behold there really was a loofa under there.  I got the seeds out, soaked it in bleach, and then let it dry.  It works great.  I wish it had produced more for Christmas presents, but it is what it is. 

I have several more projects I am in the midst of or that are waiting patiently for me to start.   I am ready to get moving.  I will keep you up to date as they progress.  What projects are you working on?  I would love to hear about them.  

Class dismissed...

Sorry I have not been blogging lately.  My weekends are spent getting up at 4:15 am and going out to our property looking for these two bad boys.  I had a glimpse of the one in back, but he is no dummy and has been scarce since opening day.  I have had entertainment watching the geese, ducks, turkeys, eagles, grouse, and pheasants.  I've seen a mink skipping on the ice and the a coyote chasing a doe.  A stray cat even wandered by. Except for the cold, it has been enjoyable.  I do have to say handwarmers are the way to go.  Drop a one in each boot and put one in each pocket and you are set.   Just close your eyes and dream your feet are by a toasty fire.  

I also was lucky enough to teach a class on butchering deer to two of my teachers.  All the planets aligned and I had a deer and time to show them the basics.    We made it a ladies night and had great fun.  They were very happy to leave with roughly 10lbs of roasts, stew meat, burger, and breakfast sausage.  We sipped a glass of homemade wine and listened to music while we worked.  No fingers were cut off, so I consider class a success.  

Have you ever shared your knowledge with friends?  If you did teach a class what would it be in?  I promise when I'm done hunting I will settle in with a cup of coffee and get caught up on everyone's blogs.  

My wildlife loop...

I have driven the same 48 miles to and from work every week for 21 years.  It is always an interesting drive and I consider it my personal wildlife loop.  I have seen elk, bighorn sheep, mountain lions, bobcats, mink, coyotes, antelope (they were very lost), and tons of deer.  

Today I saw something I have never seen before.  If you are faint of heart, please, do not watch.  It is a mule deer buck that killed it's rival in a fight and can't just walk away.  It is pretty amazing.  Sorry about the noise of the emergency flashers and music, I don't know anything about editing videos.

If you can't see the video try this U Tube site:

https://youtu.be/LQAJBwhMjRI

I hate to say that Mother Nature isn't always kind.

Slugfest...

 I've had lots of questions about what sweetgrass looks like.  Here is a photo of it in the garden.  You cannot mistaken the smell.   Below is a photo of my new nemesis the slug.  There always have been slugs in my gardens, but not to this extent.  They devour tomatoes overnight and eat plants in a single bound.  All of the rain we had this year was good for some things.  Unfortunately, those darn slugs was one of those things.  I didn't realize how bad the problem was until we built the new flower bed.  Then I took notice.  I've gone through my flower and vegetable beds every weekend.  After I find them and root them out, I treat them to a wonderful salt water bath.  Yuck!

 It hasn't all been drudgery.  I have spent quite a bit of time hunting.  Sometimes with a camera and sometimes with a beautiful Browning 300 Winchester Short Mag.  I was more successful with the gun than I was the camera.  I took a very nice 5 x 5 Black Hills buck Sunday morning.  He was butchered and in the freezer by supper.  Here are a few photos from the prairie.  One of a beautiful doe in the sunset and the other of a prairie lion (aka barn cat).

Somewhere in the middle of all this I celebrated 21 years of marriage and 43 years of living a good life.  I am thankful everyday for what I have experienced, who I have met, and what is in my future.  I say it often, "I am a lucky woman!"  

What are you thankful for?